IDF Ditches New Camouflage Uniform Project

IDF DITCHES CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORM PROJECT

The IDF will be sticking with their classic OD uniforms for the near future after scrapping their camouflage uniform development and fielding plan after what they described as an unsuccessful pilot.

One of the primary issues with the new camo was listed as participants’ concerns of friendly fire due to their resemblance to Israel’s primary enemies who use not dissimilar camo patterns. Unlike in the US and other countries where private companies pitch their respective camo patterns, The IDF developed two patterns internally which were then fielded for testing. Inside sources said that they had decided against commercial options such as Multicam and that they wanted to develop a new camo specific to Israel’s diverse terrain.

The IDF’s Technical and Logistics Directorate ran a pilot wherein hundreds of combat troops and officers tested the uniforms over the past 10 months. The uniforms also featured a new cut and fabric which were judged by testees to cause high levels of discomfort.

At the beginning of the project, the IDF claimed that the type of fabric of the camouflage uniforms was considered to be “Three times the quality of the existing OD uniforms” and that they would be “more breathable and comfortable”. Field testing seemed to prove quite the opposite however, as many of of the soldiers reported that the material used in the new uniforms was not breathable at all and caused “excessive sweating and discomfort”.

In addition, many soldiers claimed that they feared the high possibility of friendly fire incidents due to the similarity of the uniforms to those of Israel’s primary enemies, Hamas and Hezbollah.

OD uniforms have always been synonymous with the Israeli Army and the IDF is one of the last armies still fielding them. Israel has worn olive drab uniforms since its creation and a switch to camo uniforms was going to be a drastic change for them.

In recent years, Israel’s SOF units have slowly transitioned from OD to Ranger Green which we suspect may be a more realistic shift from the iconic OD if and when the IDF finally make a decision.

With over 60% of Israel’s land mass being desert, a tan or coyote uniform may actually be more appropriate but the very large proportion of the IDF’s combat operations being in urban environments may explain the logic behind Ranger Green.

If the pilot would have succeeded, the IDF was set to field over 150,000 uniforms to their combat units in the coming months. Instead, they are now re-examining the pilot and deciding on on their next steps.

The results of the project are quite embarrassing especially as the project was known to have been overseen closely by two very senior officers, the former Deputy Chief of Staff and now brand new Chief of General Staff Aviv Kohavi and General Aaron Haliva, the previous Head of the IDF’s Technical and Logistics Directorate. Both played personal roles in the project as part of their vision to modernize IDF Ground Forces.

So it’s yet to be seen if the IDF will be switching to camo uniforms after so many years in OD but one thing’s for sure, no one will be confusing the IDF for Hamas any time soon.

Check the Isratactical Blog for more IDF Updates and the latest from Agilite.

Let us know your thoughts on what the IDF should be adopting next-Multicam? Ranger Green? Stick with good old OD? Comment Below.

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1 Response

Steve Bonine

February 13, 2019

If a solid color uniform is desired, a shade similar to Tan499 blends better than OD or RG…given most of Israel is urban or arid. Another good solid color to consider is called Adaptive Green from Helikon-Tex. It’s like RG mixed with some tan. IMO, some of the best commercial patterns for Israeli terrain are the new Atacs AU-X and or I-X.

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